Coming off clunker, Cashner rebounds

MILWAUKEE -- In an ideal world, allowing 12 baserunners over six innings isn't the way Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner would have pictured his start on Tuesday at Miller Park.

But allowing two earned runs and keeping his team close worked for him, even if the team's bullpen faltered late as the Brewers defeated the Padres, 4-1.

Cashner, coming off a start against the Mets where he allowed five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, put a lot of traffic on the bases against the Brewers. But, generally, he found a way to wiggle clear of too much damage.

Video: SD@MIL: Cashner whiffs Davis to escape jam in 1st

"I didn't keep out of trouble the whole game," said Cashner, who stranded eight.

Cashner couldn't pitch around two leadoff extra-base hits -- a Scooter Gennett double in the third inning and a Shane Peterson triple in the fourth inning. Both came around to score as the lone runs Cashner would allow.

"He wasn't perfect, he wasn't his best, but the Brewers had timely hitting, they hit in the clutch, they had two-out hits. That's what it's about," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy.

A fine defensive play by center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. in the third inning saved a run, as Adam Lind tried to score on a Khris Davis single that had already knocked in one run.

Video: SD@MIL: Upton makes a great throw to nab Lind at home

"It was huge. That was a big play in the game, holding them to one run," Cashner said.

All told, Cashner allowed two runs on eight hits and four walks. He struck out five and got seven groundball outs.

But this was a step forward from Cashner's last start, on July 30 against the Mets, when he couldn't complete six innings and yielded two home runs.

"It was probably some of the better fastballs I've featured this season. I had a lot of close misses," he said. "But the main thing is I need to work ahead."

Cashner did give the Padres their 12th quality start -- six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs -- in the last 13 starts.

"I thought I kept my pace slow and didn't allow the big inning like some previous outings that I've had and kept the damage down," Cashner said.

"What I've been working on is commanding my fastball. My slider was a lot better today. It's [about] taking steps and keep moving forward."